Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has expressed the Gunners’ emotional state following their recent 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on January 4. Both teams left the field with a point each in a hard-fought Premier League clash.
Young star Ethan Nwaneri scored a fine goal in the 16th minute, skillfully navigating through the Brighton defense to give Arsenal the lead. However, despite numerous attempts to double the lead, the Gunners found themselves on the defensive when Joao Pedro managed to convert a penalty in the 61st minute, leveling the match for the Seagulls.
Reflecting on the frustrating result, Partey, who played at right-back for that match, expressed the collective disappointment within the team. He said (via Mirror):
“We are sad, frustrated, everyone is depressed, but that’s part of football. We wanted to win, we aimed to maintain our momentum, but at the end of the day we didn’t succeed. However, it is also a positive aspect since we did not lose the match. »
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“We have to strive to win games like this because they are crucial, but it’s never easy against a quality opponent like Brighton. To grab a win here, perfection is required. We must put the disappointment of Saturday behind us and concentrate on our preparations for the next match. »
The Gunners are expected to return to the field on Tuesday (January 7) when they take on Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in north London.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also gave his thoughts on the draw, expressing his displeasure with referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to award Brighton a penalty, a decision which led to Pedro’s equalizer . William Saliba’s accidental contact with Pedro, which resulted in the penalty call, left Arteta in disbelief.
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“I’m deeply disappointed because we’re aiming for a win,” Arteta told Sky Sports after the match (via Mirror). “We started well with a promising game and a fantastic goal. The second half presented challenges, with too many misplaced passes, and we are very disappointed with the penalty decision. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it—Saliba clearly touched the ball. It wasn’t a penalty for me, not at all. »
Currently, Arsenal are in second place in the Premier League table, three points ahead of Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand and are in third place.
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